Arafat Abdullah Hanif, a student at AMMAN Academy in the Batu Hijau mining townsite, has become the first from his school to join Indonesia’s National Flag-Raising Squad (Paskibraka) at the State Palace. His achievement marks a significant milestone for both himself and his community.
Arafat’s interest in Paskibraka began when he was a child, inspired by televised Independence Day ceremonies. He described his motivation: “They look so noble.” This early admiration set him on a path toward joining the elite squad.
His journey included rigorous selection processes at school, district, provincial, and national levels. Each stage presented challenges, including long commutes for training and balancing academic responsibilities with his role as student council president. Arafat noted, “All the selection processes, whether at the district, provincial, or national level, were physically and mentally exhausting.”
Support from family and mentors played an important role in his progress. He credited Mr. Wira from AMMAN Academy for guidance: “He sacrificed so much of his time to help with my entire registration and selection process,” Arafat said. The school also provided logistical support and schedule adjustments to accommodate his commitments.
At the national level in Jakarta, Arafat underwent intensive training alongside students from across Indonesia. He described this experience as transformative: “We participants became like siblings,” he said. “We were taught the spirit of korsa, a sense of unity and kinship.” Lessons learned extended beyond physical drills to values such as discipline and teamwork.
During preparations for the flag-raising ceremony at Merdeka Palace on August 17th, Arafat reflected on its significance: “I now realize that nationalism is not just about serving the country, but it’s also a mindset and actions based on the values of Pancasila,” he said.
On Independence Day 2025, Arafat fulfilled his dream by raising Indonesia’s flag at Merdeka Palace—a moment he described as proof of hard work and support from those around him.
AMMAN Academy was established in July 2008 within Batu Hijau townsite to serve children of PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara employees and business partners. The school provides education from playgroup through grade 12 using an International Baccalaureate curriculum with teachers from several countries including Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States.
Arafat hopes that his accomplishment will inspire others in Sumbawa Barat to pursue their ambitions: “A student from Sumbawa Barat can achieve the highest dream, serve the nation, and inspire many people.”
